“Our special teams in a number of areas was about as good as we've played in our time there in Green Bay, and Randall is a big part of that,” McCarthy said at the Scouting Combine on Friday. “I hope he’s not playing next year. That’s really the responsibility of the rest of the skill players in the locker room. He’s someone who spent a lot of time this time last year developing packages for him, as far as putting him in the backfield and so forth. I prefer not to play him on special teams. We’ll let time answer that.”

So much for "not playing scared."

Quote:

Cobb played 635 snaps last season on offense and another 138 on special teams for a total of 773 over 15 games. The game he missed, in the Week 17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, was a result of an ankle sprain he suffered on a kick return the previous week. Cobb has three touchdown returns in two seasons on special teams, but he will enter 2013 as arguably the Packers' top offensive playmaker. That status almost requires a transition on special teams.

If we were gonna start "playing scared," couldn't we have done so sooner, before we put a rookie on punt returns during a key playoff game. /endofbitchsession.

“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”

You see it as "playing scared." I see it as just managing risks. Special teams are for the bottom of the roster guys, not arguably the number 1 offensive weapon. Honestly, I'd almost be OK with no chances ever taken on special teams so long as they don't turn the ball over. I know that's a bit extreme, but I'd prefer starting at the 20 yard line every drive than turn the ball over and never even give the offense a chance. Currently, the Packers receiving group is still formidable, but without Jennings they don't have the same depth as last season.

It isn't like Cobb was all-world and irreplaceable as a returner last year. If he was the best returner in the NFL or something then maybe it could be considered "playing scared" but he hasn't really been all that special on returns outside of a couple here and there. Not to mention kick/punt returns are such a small aspect of the game. It's not worth the risk for what he brings to offense.

It isn't like Cobb was all-world and irreplaceable as a returner last year. If he was the best returner in the NFL or something then maybe it could be considered "playing scared" but he hasn't really been all that special on returns outside of a couple here and there. Not to mention kick/punt returns are such a small aspect of the game. It's not worth the risk for what he brings to offense.

And as we've seen with D. Hester, trying to do too much with a player can often limit them to some extent at what they originally did best.

You see it as "playing scared." I see it as just managing risks. Special teams are for the bottom of the roster guys, not arguably the number 1 offensive weapon. Honestly, I'd almost be OK with no chances ever taken on special teams so long as they don't turn the ball over. I know that's a bit extreme, but I'd prefer starting at the 20 yard line every drive than turn the ball over and never even give the offense a chance. Currently, the Packers receiving group is still formidable, but without Jennings they don't have the same depth as last season.

Mike's words, not mine.

“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”

"Our special teams in a number of areas was about as good as we've played in our time there in Green Bay and Randall is a big part of that. I hope he's not playing next year. That’s really the responsibility of the rest of the skill players in the locker room. He's someone who we spent a lot of time this time last year developing packages for him, as far as putting him in the backfield and so forth. I prefer not to play him on special teams. We'll let time answer that." - Mike McCarthy.

So, we finally hear what we all (most of us) wanted to hear and we're gonna chastised him for it? Perhaps he has had time to think things through, things such as you know the number one WR most surely leaving, thus, making Randall Cobb more valuable?

You don't want your coach saying "yeah next season we will take him off special teams because we do not expect Greg back" because that tells you he's thinking of NEXT SEASON and not NEXT GAME.

C'mon people ... get with it or get a spanking!

"I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success... such emotions make a man forget food, sleep, friends, love, everything." - Nikola Tesla

I can live with Cobb being pulled off ST. I rather expected it this upcoming season. Returns tend to be done by the guys who are not starters or heavily involved in the offense. I am a little surprised that Mike said so now before the draft.

And as we've seen with D. Hester, trying to do too much with a player can often limit them to some extent at what they originally did best.

Cobb was never Hester on special teams, and Hester isn't what he used to be. And that being said, Cobb is quite a bit better on offense than Hester was, although maybe that's just a result of better people around him than Hester (then again, that's also an argument for Cobb reserved for offense).

Regardless, while I see some value in comparing the two situations, Cobb and Hester are NOT equivalent. If we were in a situation like we were in 2010 I think where our options to return punts were Tramon Williams or random WR, absolutely keep Cobb in there. But while Ross muffed one in a big game, he's shown explosiveness and field vision as well. At least give the kid some more chances. And if he stinks it up in the preseason, I'm sure we'll see Cobb in there again assuming someone else doesn't raise eyebrows.

Agreed, plus I liked the flashes that Jeremy Ross showed last season. Just give him a full off-season practicing as the team's kick/punt returner and full season before putting him in that position in the playoffs... :-"

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